Big 12 tournament promises to be unpredictable

That doesn’t mean they feel very good about themselves entering the league tournament.

The Wildcats lost a road game against Oklahoma State on Saturday, while the Jayhawks were routed by Baylor a few hours later in a game that would have given them the outright title.

Consider it proof that the Big 12 tournament, which starts tonight at Sprint Center, promises to be among the most intriguing and unpredictable in conference history.

“I’ve never seen the league better, with more teams that can win your league tournament, than we have now,” said the Jayhawks’ Bill Self, whose team has won five of the last seven editions.

“Not very often you go in and say, ‘Well, I think that team can positively win three games in a row,’” Self said, “and there are six teams that can win three games in a row.”

Maybe more. Maybe even some that can win four in a row.

Seventh-seeded Texas, which is 0-6 in Big 12 tournament title games, faces league newcomer TCU on the opening night. The Longhorns have won three of their last four after a disastrous start to the season, their improved play coinciding with the return of star guard Myck Kabongo.

“I think this tournament may be the most competitive we’ve ever had, because there’s a lot of team that go into it thinking, ‘We have to do some work,’” Texas coach Rick Barnes said. “We know what’s there. We need to win, it’s plain and simple, and not just one game. For us to do what we set out the year to do, we have to win the tournament.”

That’s the same situation that Texas Tech and league newcomer West Virginia are in as they prepare to play the other game tonight. The winner advances to play top-seeded Kansas, while the Texas-TCU winner gets No. 2 seed Kansas State in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

The other quarterfinals are already set.

Third-seeded Oklahoma State faces sixth-seeded Baylor, which is coming off that eye-opening victory over the Jayhawks. But at 18-13 overall, the Bears are still desperately chasing marquee wins if they want to reach the NCAA tournament for the third time in four years.

“All season long, I’ve said there is parity in college basketball,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “Our team can beat anybody in the nation, and as everybody has shown in college basketball, anybody can lose to anybody. We just need to keep the execution going.”

No. 4 seed Oklahoma and fifth-seeded Iowa State are sitting more comfortably than Baylor on the NCAA tournament bubble, but nevertheless, a win in their Thursday match-up would take much of the pressure off them come Selection Sunday.

“I like the rhythm we’re playing with right now,” said Cyclones coach Fred Hoiberg, whose team has gone eight years without winning a game at the Big 12 tournament.

“We’re going to go down there and approach it like it’s a very important game, which it is,” Hoiberg said. “We’re going to go down there with the right mindset.”

The mindsets of Kansas State and Kansas should provide quite the story line.

The Jayhawks won both of their regular-season meetings, including a lopsided verdict at Allen Fieldhouse. But the Wildcats fared better against the rest of the league, so the teams were tied in the standings as they entered their road finales last Saturday.

The Wildcats played well against the Cowboys, building a nine-point lead in the second half, only to wither down the stretch and lose 76-70. Their coach, Bruce Weber, and most of their players were so dejected after the defeat that they didn’t even bother to watch Kansas play Baylor on television a few hours later, even though it would determine whether they shared the title.

The Jayhawks struggled early on, managed to close the gap to six points in the second half, and then watched the Bears go on a late run in an 81-58 upset victory.

The result: Kansas State and Kansas were co-champions of the regular season.

“A lot of people, instead of saying we won the Big 12, they want to focus more on, ‘Oh, Kansas should have won it because they beat you guys twice,’ or whatever,” said the Wildcats’ Angel Rodriguez. “We got the same record, and that’s all that matters. They should’ve took care of business, too, just like we should have took care of business against them.”

With the teams on opposite sides of the bracket in Kansas City, they’ll each have to win two games to get another shot at each other. But if they manage to do that, the feeling on both sides of the rivalry is that the game would serve as an unofficial tiebreaker.

“This year the tournament means a lot because we tied for the regular season,” Kansas guard Travis Releford said. “If we make it that far, I hope to win it outright.”

More like this story on KUsports.com

Comments

You are "en fuego" dude.
The Wicked Witch of the East is full of Hoya and the WW of the West needs the Samson treatment if Hebrew is Spokane out there. Victor Mature will become Victor Manure with no Promised Land in sight.

In the day-after Tule Fog of the all night puppy-sitting haze, I seem to recall cracking wise about this AP story, or did I merely hallucinate do so?

So: now my Dear Sky Mastersons and Nathan Detroits and Big Julies, I does not seems to see the likeness of what my memory claims to remember at the top of this august thread from which all those enjoying whistle swallowing par excellence do here gain en-smartening and occasional amusements from the (ah-chooo) lowly likes of me.

Did my epistle forthwith get pulled? Or to reitierate my reiteration, am I just imagining that I posted that not-eponymous Makepeace Thackerayanesque satire in the wee small hours of the Sinatran morning with Nelson Riddle like verve?

To wit: to whom, zabs, wuz you referrin' to as bein' "en fuego" so far north of Cienfuego?

The Evil Empire had best bring its A Game if it hopes to win this league tournament. That was an embarrassing stomping by Dreadful Drew. Hopefully, yet another wake-up call. Bewilders me that a group of experienced seniors and arguably the best freshman ever to adorn a KU uniform continues to fall to squads with miserable season records. (Not to devalue Wilt, who couldn't play his freshman year.)

If you guys are responding to my post, thinking you have unearthed a Misery fan, then you certainly haven't followed LJW posts carefully this past half decade.
And if you weren't chagrined by that drubbing in Waco or the holocaust down at TCU, then I must be dumber than Dick Cheney, even to be reacting to you.

haha... very funny. double check your "2012 Big 12 Champions". You haven't won a Conference Championship since 1994!!! You won the "Conference Tourney Championship". NOT THE SAME THING! Those are two totally different titles and are represented by two different banners in the rafters. Not that I would expect you to know what a Championship Banner looks like... By the way, how is middle of the road in the SEC treating ya? About the same as you ranked in the Big12!!! HA!

The 2012-2013 Missouri theme..unbeatable at home..unbearable on the road. The state of Missouri continues to proudly claim it's number one NATIONAL status for number of puppy mills, meth labs and unlicensed child day-care centers.
Phil Pressey is writing a book, "One Thousand Way A Point Guard Can Lose A Game...And How I Did It."

To be or not to be? I have to be at Children's Mercy tomorrow morning shortly after 10:00 am...

While just down the road there should be scads of seats available starting at $65 for mountaintop view, Bushnells not included, or 2 Uncle Bens for all 4 days. No cover across the street at Johnny's, some slow mo replays, rather absorbant beverage fees, & long waiting lines at the head. My preference...55" Samsung w/surround & unlimited replays, cheap beer straight from the px & NO LINE at the fridge or the head. Plus Christian Brothers, Davis, & Gurley for plan B. Guess where I'll be sitting with all the money?

Last time I parked at the P & L for a hockey game that was about 20 bucks too. Plus, the very first time I entered the Sprint Center I did not even think about having a pocket knife in my jeans, I always carry one unless flying. Hello? I thought they were going to give me an old fashioned beatdown when I refused to give it to them. Went back outside & left it under a doormat & was still there when I left. Was an unhappy camper at the time as it is not a dimestore piece. Absolutely earned my lesson in political/social correctness on the maiden voyage. When the Blades used to play at Kemper we were often in a suite complete with room service & open bar...that was nice, but we've no good connections in this day & age at Sprint. Best avail now are half price nosebleeds which are no better than full price. Not an option.

The price you pay to live in a "Free Country" also nothing more obvious in regards to the wimpification of America than to see grown men in an Airport going through security with their shoes off. Founding fathers and dead vets rolling in their graves.

Drgnslayer, bruce weber is an idiot!!! And what does Bill say after hearing his rude remark about the KU vs Iowa State game? Bill said "No comment' like the great man he is. I didn't like weber when he was at Illinois and sure don't like him in the big 12. Not because he's a great coach, but because he has no class. These funerals he's giving for past coaches, is rediculous!!!

Jayhawks you're picked to win the tourney, go into KC with that killer attitude and don't ease up on anyone!!!